Classes & Programs / Dance

Boys' Dance Programs

Winter 2019

Jan.-April

Dance classes are a great opportunity for male students to build athletic endurance, balance, and coordination. MCA offers nurturing classes with male and female instructors allowing male students to feel comfortable while building technique, creativity and confidence. Each semester MCA has over 70 boys enrolled in our dance classes across disciplines including creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz, Irish and hip hop. MCA’s Boys program has even received national recognition in the article “Boy Crazy” in Dance Teacher Magazine.

Boys in Motion Ages 3-4

Calling all super heroes, knights and future athletic stars, this dance class rocks! Specifically designed for young boys ages 4-6 years, to enhance athletic skills, flexibility, coordination and strength while also being introduced to ballet and contemporary dance.

Day/Dates: Wednesdays, Jan. 9-March 13

Time: 4:30-5 pm

Age: 3-4 years

Fee: $18 (10 classes)

Instructor: D. Schleich

Boys in Motion Ages 5-6

Calling all super heroes, knights and future athletic stars, this dance class rocks! Specifically designed for young boys ages 4-6 years, to enhance athletic skills, flexibility, coordination and strength while also being introduced to ballet and contemporary dance.

Day/Dates: Wednesdays, Jan. 9-13

Time: 4:00-4:30 pm

Age: 5-6 years

Fee: $18 (10 classes)

Instructor: D. Schleich

Boys Dance

This high energy class just for boys focuses on building technique and strength while exploring classical and contemporary dance disciplines such as hip hop, ballet, modern and jazz dance. All experience levels welcome.

Day/Dates: Thursdays, Jan. 10- March14

Age: 7-12

Time: 6:15-7:00 p.m.

Fee: $18 (10 classes)

Instructor: J. Dienger

Nolan has really taken to dance, thanks to MCA. I highly recommend getting your sons into their initial classes. Nolan started with Hip Hop, and has progressed into quite the dancer. He has now added ballet to his coursework, and he is taking to it as well. Props to all of the wonderful dance instructors at MCA!

Chris Livingston

Father of MCA Students

About MCA's Dance Program

MCA is an affiliate program of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre and Dance. Students at the university, or those taking a post-secondary education option (PSEO) for high school, can get university credit towards their major, minor or PE credit, when they take an upper level MCA dance class. Our younger dancers also get the opportunity to perform in main-stage university productions, due to this connection, such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, etc.

The Conservatory's Dance Repertory Company puts on a biannual Nutcracker, as well as a full-length performance every April. This production is either a full-length story ballet, or contemporary dance concert choreographed by a variety of professional choreographers from across the region. For the winters in years that there is not a Nutcracker, MCA produces a dance showcase in our black box theatre for the younger dancers, as well as pieces choreographed by students that have taken the Choreography class at the Conservatory. When possible dance classes also perform at local establishments and events. MCA's dance program does not participate in competitions, nor does it do recitals.

MCA's dance division offers students exciting technique classes and performance opportunities in a nurturing and rigorous but non-competitive environment with qualified instructors. MCA successfully prepares students for future arts-related professional and educational pursuits.

Students and alumni have studied at or performed with:

American Ballet Theatre

Ananya Dance Theatre

Ballet Austin

Ballet Chicago

Broadway

Butler University

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet

Chicago Human Rhythm Project

Colorado Ballet

Columbia College

Continental Ballet

Eastman School of Music – Rochester University

Joffery Ballet

Juilliard

Limon Dance Company

Milwaukee Ballet School

Minnesota Ballet School

Minnesota Dance Theatre’s The Dance Institute

Radio City Music Hall Rockettes

Saint Olaf College

St. Paul City Ballet

Texas Christian University

The Laban Institute

University of Iowa

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

University of Missouri Kansas City

University of Oklahoma

and Wichita State University among others.

Whether you or your child dreams of dancing professionally or just want to reek the benefits of a fun, enriching, quality dance education MCA has a program for you!

To ensure the continuous education of both our instructors and students MCA is a proud member of the National Guild for Community Arts Schools and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). As a member of NDEO MCA is also sponsors Junior (6th-8th grade), Secondary (High School), and Collegiate National Honors Society for Dance Arts Chapters to help recognize dancers accomplishments and commitments and further the field of dance education.

Dance Program Dress Code

Dance Division Dress Code

MCA students are asked to follow the below dress code. Adhering to this policy promotes safety and injury prevention, allows instructors to view the student's bodylines and placement to make corrections, and provides a sense of tradition, discipline and respect. Please note: no jeans may be worn for any classes. Basic dance shoes and attire may fitted and ordered through MCA's Dance Boutique. Other items may be ordered online or may be found at Blades to Ballet in Rochester. If the cost of dance attire makes participation in MCA programs difficult please contact our office at 507-453-5500, we would love to see if we are able to help provide gently used donations.

Ballet:

Female attire – pink tights, pink ballet slippers and a black leotard. Hair is to be pulled tightly off the face and neck in a bun. Pre-Ballet for 4 & 5 Year-olds and Beginning Ballet Students are also invited to wear pink leotards and simple ballet skirts (please non-tutu’s).

Tap: Movable clothing and oxford style tap shoes. Hair is to be pulled off the face and neck.

Jazz: Any color leotard and moveable exercise/dance bottoms (not too baggy as to hinder the instructor’s view of the students’ body lines), jazz shoes, jazz sneakers or ballet slippers. No bare feet or socks. Hair is to be securely pulled off the face and neck.

Click Here to learn more about observation/ demonstration days, discounts, cancellation policy and more for dance classes.

Accreditation

PSEO Students in their junior and senior years of high school who participate in the Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO) may also take selected MCA classes for Saint Mary’s University credit offered through the Saint Mary’s dance minor. For more details, contact your high school or counselor.

Saint Mary's University Students have the option of taking upper level dance classes at MCA that are not offered on the SMU campus and performing with MCA's pre-professional dance company, The Dance Repertory Company (DRC) for credit. SMU students do not have to be a Dance Minor or even in the Theatre & Dance Department to participate in MCA dance classes or DRC. Please contact Tammy Schmidt, MCA Director of Dance and SMU Dance Department at: tschmidt@smumn.edu or 507-453-5502 for more info.

Cotter High School students who also participate in MCA dance classes and performances are able to track participation hours (MCA will validate) and turn them in to count towards Physical Education graduation requirements.

Other Memberships & Opportunities: To ensure the continuous education of both our instructors and students MCA is a proud member of the National Guild for Community Arts Schools, River Arts Alliance, National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). As a member of NDEO MCA is also sponsors Junior (6th-8th grade), Secondary (High School), and Collegiate National Honors Society for Dance Arts Chapters to help recognize dancers accomplishments and commitments and further the field of dance education.

This page is for 2018 Nutcracker Cast members and their families. All Friday Fill-ins and other important production documents will be posted here. All cast members will be emailed the passcode, additionally it can be found int he Nutcracker Handbook.

Just as the leaves and seasons change, so does our programming. We are so excited to share a glimpse into our exciting Fall programming that we are in the midst of planning. Please click on the image below to explore our Fall 2018 Catalog. Registration will open soon. We hope to see you soon!

Back by popular demand, our 2nd annual Super Artist Camp camp for ages 3- 1st grade is almost here! The week long camp runs June 25-29 at MCA’s home, The Valencia Arts Center. This camp invites young children to explore their inner artist, grow their imaginations, and creative super powers. They will zoom around the room like their favorite heroes, design their own super accessories, sing out proud with their brave voices and more.